Aja Evans, who won Olympic bobsleigh bronze for the United States at Sochi 2014, has received a two-year suspension for an anti-doping violation ©Getty Images

Aja Evans, who won Olympic bobsleigh bronze for the United States at the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, has received a two-year suspension for what has been accepted as an unintentional anti-doping violation.

Evans, who partnered driver Jamie Greubel in the two-woman bob in Sochi and earned world bronze in 2017, failed to submit to sample collection after being notified by a United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) doping control officer of an out-of-competition test on March 29 this year.

Evading sample collection or failing to submit to sample collection constitutes an anti-doping rule violation.

Evans faced a four-year ban, but USADA determined the athlete had not intentionally avoided submitting a sample and that the offence was down to negligence.

A two-year ban has therefore been imposed.

Aja Evans only received a two-year suspension as USADA accepted he rule violation unintentional ©Getty Images
Aja Evans only received a two-year suspension as USADA accepted he rule violation unintentional ©Getty Images

The 34-year-old Chicago athlete's two-year period of ineligibility began on November 8, the date she accepted a sanction.

In addition, Evans has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and after March 29, the date she failed to provide a sample, including forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes.

Evans also raced with Greubel at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics, finishing fifth.

Evans has been in the winner sled at four World Cup races, but has no results in the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation database since 2018.